I hope the officer was not seriously hurt and will make a full recovery.

If he wasn't seriously hurt then he shouldn't have been flown to Shock Trauma. Do you know how much that costs? He could have been driven to the closest hospital quicker then flow to Shock Trauma and at 1/50 the cost.

People in general need to be almost dying to get to Shock Trauma. Perhaps there was a misdiagnosis on the part of the paramedics on scene. It wouldn't surprise me.

This trooper was indeed hurt enough to crash is car into a Jersy Wall. He obvoiusly needed immediate attention. Although he may have left the hospital with non life threatening injuries. We as spectators of this report should not be leaving the life and death decisions up to us. Let the professionals do there jobs. We might need them some day.

Tim,

If you were the police officer envolved or not, you are the biggest piece of crap for making that comment. Regardless of race, these folks that you called 911 for obviously because you weren't trained enough to help yourself are far more trained than you. Just because they didn't diagnose you with your problem does not make them worthless. They are not Drs. Secondly, your problem was possibly more underlying like eating twinkies or hoho's sitting on the couch everyday. Just so you know these people give you the same respect as you give them. So if you are being childish and offensive and not respectful, they will treat you with non respect.

It was a little surprising that the trooper was able to be ambulanced to a hospital. We were sitting in that traffic and had no idea what happened. We saw the trooper car when we finally passed the scene. There were about 10 trooper cars. They had apparently shut down both sides of the highway.

I agree with Robert Armstrong. We are overusing shock trauma and it seems as though if you are in law enforcement you automatically get a ticket to Shock Trauma. Looks better when it's fund raising time - we treat America, Baltimore County, etc.'s finest

In my opinion all public safety employees (Fire or Police) should be taken to shock trauma these are the people that are coming to your emergency. These folks deserve the best care possible no matter what the trauma injury is. Now I don’t believe all should be flown some could be ground transported because of their priority. But the bottom line is give the best care to our rescuers.

The cost on average of just the flight is close to $18,000. Franklin Square was just minutes away. They do it all the time. In Harford County a deputy Sheriff was involved in a car crash within a half mile of a hospital and they flew him to Shock Trauma with minor injuries.
Yet people complain about wasteful spending by the State and MD's high tax rates.

So Robert, you’re telling me that when it comes to our public safety employees they don’t deserve the best care possible? Again you have no argument from about the use of the helicopter for some injuries at times but all should go to Shock Trauma. Maybe next time you’re in need of emergency care they will transport you to Patient First or Concentra. No need to send you to an emergency room due to the cost and the waste of resources.

Insurance will pay for my trip to wherever they send me. The State picks up the tab for the cop with the broken toe's $18,000 trip to the Shock Trauma.
In a cash strapped State that is ludicrous. Somebody should actually do a study and see how badly the Shock Trauma system is abused when it comes to cops being flown around with less than critical injuries.

Reading your comments on the state trooper being flown to shock trauma and the issues you have regarding the cost, shouldn’t you look across the entire way the state spends our dollars? It seems you’re in favor of illegal immigration which cost state dollars and you’re in favor of entitlements which cost state tax dollars. Between the two it cost our state millions in tax dollars but you’re worried about the $18,000 cost of our public servants being flown to the number one trauma center in the country. Spoken like a true liberal.

Which entitlements am I in favor of? Where did I ever say I was in favor of Illegal immigration?

$18,000 times how many trips ??

I believe you all forgot that it was a "Maryland State Trooper" who was hurt. If I'm not mistaken isn't the helicopter a "Maryland State Police" helicopter????? I am pretty sure thats his own departments helicopter taking him to the hospital. Bottom line is...... shut your mouth because most of you are all worthless while this Trooper is out there putting his life on the line to protect you.

Who cares? It still costs the taxpayers $18,000. This guy wrecked his own patrol car due to his own negligence.

If it had been Joe Schmoe he would have gotten an $500 ambulance ride to Franklin Square

Next time you are hurt or need help, make sure you tell the dispatcher to tell the police officers to respond normally because accelerating and high speeds would waste gas money which cost the taxpayers money. And think of this, how many traffic tickets and arrests does this police officer make every year??? Were does all that money that the criminal or traffic offender pays go to??? O yeahhhh thats right, back into the States pocket, guess you forgot about that. Plus he pays taxes to so thats his money being put to use. Sooo besides paying taxes.... what do you do for the citizens and State of Maryland????

Robert you really need to Think before you post. As I wrote earlier they work 24/7/365 in shifts so the troopers you saw off-duty imbibing (that means drinking in case big words confuse you) alcohol were just that: OFF DUTY. I really hope you don't have to think in order to work. If you do please let me know where that is so that I can avoid that place at all costs.

Obviously, they didn't have to think in order to work. Hopefully the Brown Clown that crashed wasn't off duty in his take home car.

Robert you are clearly misinformed. Baltimore county charter does not allow for EMS billing therefore you have never received a bill for an ambulance ride via a 911 service from a Baltimore county unit. Your comments about insurance paying the tab etc should make people question your credibility of information.

I am talking about the cost of the ambulance ride. Not insurance reimbursement for said ride
If you are airlifted you will definitely get a bill. Baltimore County has no say over Shock Trauma.

You need a little help with reading comprehension.

Well again your misinformed. Shock trauma obviously will send you a hospital bill they have no say over the Maryland State Police helicopter who can not and does not charge for transport. The helicopter has no affiliation with Shock trauma, they actually transport to any hospital with a heli-pad both medical and trauma.

Theres two bills involved. One for the helocopter ride and one from the hospital.

When a cop breaks his toe the taxpayers are stuck with both costs. If an EMS can't make a determination in the field if someone is critically injured then they need to be retrained or fired. What is the purpose of sending someone with non life threatening injuries to Shock Trauma. It is wasteful spending.

Maybe we arnt seeing eye to eye with the term "bill". The patient does not get a bill from MSP, however the taxpayer does pick up the cost for the helicopter. Everytime you renew your registration at the MVA money goes towards MSP helicopter service which also does law enforcement and rescue missions. It would be common courtesy to send these individuals to shock trauma however utilizing the helicopter when not waranted is dangerous and unnecessary. As for this case an ambo ride from 95 would have been just as quick if not quicker to shock trauma (again out of courtesy) rather than aviation utilization. Aviation has its purpose, but neither of us were there to determine extent of injuries, mental status, vital signs, etc.

And to clarify your earlier post said ".....some joe scmhoe would have gotten a 500 dollar ambo ride to fsh". My reading comprehension is fine as stated before.....No Bill for transport

Half of the Shock Trauma Flights are Unnecessary. What a waste of money

http://www.jems.com/article/extrication-rescue/half-marylands-medevac-transpo

My daughter fell down a flight of steps and hurt her neck. When paramedics arrived, before transporting her to the hospital they put her on a board and supported her neck just in case.

I would have requested a Shock Trauma helicopter if I thought of it at the time.

It's always a stupid waste of money unless it hits close to home.

Support your local police!

You can request a Shock Trauma Helicopter?

What a joke.

Robert I have to laugh at you. If you are so upset about this then move to another state where they don't have the finest EMS system in the country. Your ignorance about this whole system is hilarious to me. It's all fun and games until your life is on the line and your lying in my Trauma Bay. For the record, you should educate yourself on the Maryland State Protocol Trauma Decision Tree and with that get an education in Medicine so you know what you are talking about.

The protocol must not work if 1/2 of all flights aren't necessary.